FKN Newz

ANCHOR: Brazil's Amazon rain forest has seen an increase in deforestation in recent months. Even though over the past four years the activity has slowing in 2008 it's expected to rise again, which raises concerns for the world's environment. STORY: On Monday Brazil's new Environment Minister Carlos Minc painted a bleak picture of the current state in the Amazon. The rise in deforestation raises questions over Brazil's assurance that it's environmental policies are effective in protecting the world's largest rain forest. The destruction of the Amazon is a major source of the carbon emissions driving global warming. Official figures show the Amazon lost 1123 sqaure kilometers in April and Minc says there are darker days ahead. However, Brazil's government is taking steps to try and turn back the tide. [Carlos Minc, Brazil's Environmental Minister]: "That's what we have to prepare for, because the worst is yet to come. The test is now and our expectation is that these measures (government actions) come into effect in such way that the data of this year's June through September (deforestation figures) will decrease in comparison to the data of last year's June through September." Among the steps for action is the the seizing of cattle in unregulated land. Laws have been put in place requiring agro-businesses, steel industries and others to report on activities that could be damaging the rain forest. Minc also mentioned the reinforcement of the so-called "Green line" to contain the expansion of deforestation areas by establishing a floor price for forest products. [Carlos Minc, Brazil's Environmental Minister]: "Our war isn't simply against the figures of each month. The present (economic development) model impoverishes the people and destroys the forest. We want another model, where the forest is preserved as an important genetics bank and the people have a better life condition, with more jobs, payments and sewage systems." Rising global commodity prices are likely to fuel more clearing of land for farms. The same thing happened in 2004 when Brazil recorded its highest deforestation rate of more than 27, 000 square kilometers. Minc took office last month as the Environment Minister after the Marina Silva stepped down from the position, citing an inability to carry out her agenda.